Vermont unemployment rate drops, Derby still highest unemployment rate in the state

NEWPORT — The Vermont Department of Labor says that the state’s unemployment rate dropped one-tenth of 1 percent in January to 3.1 percent, but that Derby still has the highest unemployment rate in Vermont.

Overall, Vermont’s unemployment rate was tied for seventh lowest in the country for the same time period.

Unemployment in Vermont’s 17 labor markets ranged from a low of 2.6 percent in the Burlington-South Burlington area, White River Junction, and Woodstock, to a high of 7 percent in Derby.

The seasonally-adjusted Vermont data for January shows the Vermont civilian labor force increased by 900 from the prior month’s revised estimate.

The number of employed increased by 1,150 and the number of unemployed decreased by 250.

Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrle says the initial numbers for January show the state’s economy is headed in a positive direction.

Two years ago the old “Newport” labor market area was renamed to “Derby.”